A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

O you befooled fleshly minds, that find no pleasure in the things of God, but had rather be drinking, or gaming, or scraping in the world, awaken your souls and see what you are doing! With what eyes do you see, with what hearts do you think of the Works, and Word, and Ways of God, and of the Holy employments that you are so much against! For my own part, I freely and truly here profess to you, that I would not exchange the Pleasure that my soul enjoyeth in this one piece of the holy Work of God, for all your mirth, and sport, and gain, and whatever the world and sin affords you: I would not change the delights which I enjoy, in one of these holy days and duties, in the mentioning of the eternal God, and celebrating his praise, and magnifying his Name, and thinking, and speaking of the riches of his Love, and the glory of his Kingdom, no not for all the pleasure of your lives. O that your souls were cured of those dangerous diseases, that make you loath the sweetest things! You ⟨p. 287⟩would then know what it is that you have set light by, and would marvel at your selves, that you could taste no sweetness in the sweetest things! Can you think that your work or your play, your profits or your sports, are comparable for pleasure to the Praises of the Lord! If Grace had made you competent Judges, I am sure you would say, There is no comparison. Hear but the testimony of a holy soul, yea of the Spirit of God by him. [Psal. 147. 1. Praise ye the Lord, for it is good to sing Praises to our God: for it is pleasant, and praise is comely. Psalm 149. 1, 2. Praise ye the Lord: sing unto the Lord a new song: and his Praise in the Congregation of Saints. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him, let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the Saints be joyful in Glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high Praises of God be in their mouth, &c.] Psal. 95. 1, 2, 3. O come let us sing unto the Lord, let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation: Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise to him with Psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all Gods.]